Illegal excavation in Parkwood contravenes JRA act
The Johannesburg Roads Agency notes that no service provider can undertake excavations on the road reserve, or sidewalk without a valid wayleave.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) confirmed on January 24 that an excavation on the pavement along Cardiff and Denbeigh roads in Parkwood is illegal.
This follows after a concerned community member alerted the publication about the excavation which has exposed a water pipe.
JRA spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers explained, “The agency’s region B depot can confirm there is no record of a wayleave issued to any entity or service provider to undertake excavations and work on the sidewalk along Cardiff and Denbeigh roads in Parkwood. The excavations are illegal and will be closed and reinstated by the JRA for the safety of road users and pedestrians, while further investigations on the matter are undertaken.”
Ward 117 councillor Tim Truluck said he was unaware of the illegal excavation.
Truluck added, “You will probably find it’s a reinstatement dug by Joburg Water to repair a burst pipe. There are over 100 of these in each ward and due to the collapse of the old asbestos water pipes, they are growing another 10 to 20 per ward a month as more pipes break. JRA cannot keep up with repairing them anymore.”
Peters-Scheepers emphasised that no service provider could undertake excavations and any other work on the road reserve, pavement or any of the city’s road assets without a valid wayleave.
“The application for a wayleave is necessary for the JRA to monitor and control all work within the road reserve so that it conforms with the JRA policy and the service delivery agreement. The issuing of wayleaves is also necessary to ensure that work done on the road reserve complies with the ‘code of practice for work in the road reserve’ and other relevant acts.”
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